Reason why I haven't blogged...

First - Summer. It was busy...if I wasn't with Libby, I was with church people. But I believe it was the most impactful summer for many of the youth in the Bridge. Phil came on board and was announced as the high school youth pastor. That means my time will get to be mainly with middle schoolers!! Believe it or not, that's my passion. I went through a lot in middle school and believe that is the age where they begin to understand what a relationship with Christ is all about. So I believe a lot of life change will take place in these kids now that I can really focus on them. The problem in the past is that they would never come out because high schoolers are intimidating! So we never fully got to reach them the way they should have been. But I have a lot of work ahead of me to get into the middle schools and get kids excited about the change!! I'm excited though, I know anytime there is a split, there is growth so please be praying as this begins that God moves in the lives of these students and that we're able to reach many kids.

Second - Sadie. We got a puppy!! I'm surprised Libby hasn't posted about it...I guess she works a lot or something :-) Kidding, she's such a good teacher, I don't know how she does it. If the kids only knew how much time and energy she put into them, I think they would have a new appreciation for her. It makes me appreciate all the poor teachers that had to deal with me growing up! Anyway, Sadie is our little black lab mix puppy. She's the sweetest thing ever!! I knew I was a dog person, but she's got me. She also makes me exhausted. I get up every night at 2 and around 5 sometimes to let her out to take care of business. So I haven't had a solid night of sleep in awhile. Then I have to come home every couple of hours to let her out or play with her. The nice thing about school being back in session is that I don't have to be away too much. There isn't much office work when you're a youth pastor so my days are more open (except for meeting and planning stuff). Then I just go into the schools for lunch and spend time with them once school is out and go to their games and stuff. But I always have to be thinking about the dog and the next time she needs out! I can't imagine having kids...I don't even want to think about it right now. I know it will be different because Libby can stay home, but then I'll have a tired wife and a crying/poopy kid. I guess the madness will never end. But I'm glad we got a puppy first, great practice and realization for me that being a father can wait...a long time :-)

That's my update...I'm sure I've left a lot out because I personally haven't been on here in such a long time. But those are the biggest happenings lately. If something philosophical pops in my head, I'll write it out. I haven't had one of those moments in awhile....pray that I do, I love gaining new perspectives and wisdom that God can teach me in the little things in life.

10 Highlights of my Summer Vacation!

My kiddos come to me on Friday!!! I have two teacher work days on Wednesday and Thursday, so I officially have two full days of summer left. Gabe is taking those days off so we can spend some quality time together before I get back to working full time. I have to tell you, I have loved my summer vacation. I feel refreshed and rested for another year with my fifth graders. It might be hard getting back to the "busyness", but I know I will adjust.

Here are the highlights of my summer, in no particular order:

1. Waking up whenever I wanted to.....the type A personality in me still set alarms though.

2. Reading novels (I read about five this summer! That's good for me!) outside in my blue lawn chair

3. Going to Chicago to the Willow Creek Creative Arts Conference in June with some of my best friends

4. Planning Gabe's birthday party and then the party itself

5. The multiple trips up to Milford to hang out with my family.....sometimes Gabe would go but there were many times when I just went by myself

6. Going to King's Island with the kids in our church

7. Babysitting little Josiah on Thursdays and the times I spent afterwards with his mom, Marcia

8. The afternoon when Kylee, Marcia, and I played with Josiah in his kiddie pool in our swimsuits while eating Dilly Bars

9. Working on home decorating projects around the house.....

10. I loved spending time with Gabe and not having school distract my mind. We went to Cinncinatti to celebrate our one year anniversary.....that was the best trip! Short and sweet! I just think my husband is really cool and fun to be with. He's made my summer a good one.

And now, I am on to another adventure: a new school year. Yes, I am excited and anxious, but this year I have more peace about what will come my way and I hope to become a better teacher. I am praying for wisdom from the Lord every day in knowing how to best help my 21 students......you can be praying, too!

It's off to making Snickerdoodles now......Gabe's been craving them! :)

So, I took a long break....

Goodness gracious! I am not even sure where to start here. It's been way too long since I have written on our blog. Honestly, Gabe and I kinda forgot about it! I thought that maybe if I changed it up a bit, I would get new inspiration to keep up on it. But here I am at 10:36 p.m. on Sunday night thinking about what to write that would be interesting enough to read. I feel like I need to catch up you readers (are there any?) on what has been going on for two months, but that would take a long time.

What about summing it up in a nutshell? I am not even sure what that means...oh well.

I love having a summer vacation. I am headed back into the classroom tomorrow morning to work for as many hours as I can on my classroom. We start on August 14! It's going to be here before I know it. Eeek! I better get cracking!

My summer has consisted of bunches of relaxing, sunny days. I have spent some much needed time with Gabe and my friends here in Anderson. Great memories made so far!

I have been able to spend alot of time with my parents in Milford! It's only a few hours up to Milford so I have been able to see them every other week really. I love being with them. Actually, my mom is headed down here to spend the night on Thursday! We will have so much fun!

I have done projects around the house this summer! I am in the process of redecorating our spare bedroom! I painted it a pretty yellow color and am looking for a new bedspread. I am sure Mom will help me look....she has a great eye for things like that!

Every week I am helping my friend Marcia by watching her son Josiah one day a week. I have a total blast with that kid. He is sixteen months old and is learning to talk. I'd like to think that I have helped him learn a few things this summer.....we'll see if it sticks.

An update on Gabe....well, he just got back from the high school camp! He said it was an amazing experience for all the kids and for him. God showed up in big ways and real ways to the high schoolers and we are praying that these kids never forget what they have learned. He is working hard for The Bridge and loving his job. He gets to hang out with kids during the summer which is his favorite part of his job! I am proud of him.

That's not really a quick update on our lives, but it will work. I am just proud of myself for actually writing on here tonight. It's time to go to bed if I am getting up to work at school! More posts soon.....I promise it won't be two months from now. Way too long, my friends!

We love you!

Where we were a year ago....

I was thinking about where we were a year ago and wanted to share. Ahh....on the beach, soaking up the sun, and having the best "first" vacation ever.

The new Mrs. Reed!!

My oh-so-good looking hubby!

So many more years of memories to come. I love you, Gabe!

ONE YEAR!!!

So it's been a year yesterday that we have been married. It's hard to believe that a year has passed us. I don't even remember what it was like to say goodbye after spending a sunday together. (this is Gabe by the way). It's weird to think that we dated for 4 years without being in the same city and seeing each other maybe once a week on the day that I'm usually the most exhausted because of church stuff. Last night Libby and I watched our wedding and it brought back all those feelings of anxiousness to get to be with the girl I've waited my whole life for! It was so great to have all of our friends and family come out to watch that glorious event. We're more than blessed for the lives that we have and the people in them.

I'll never forget 5 years ago around this time - I was sitting on the steps of my parent's house crying to my mom. I had made mistakes in my life, I dated people that were not even close to what I would imagine for my life and I had lost touch with God. I felt so lost, so empty and hurting. I just wanted to get away, to start over and focus my life on what God wants in my life. I know that seems "churchy" - which it shouldn't it should be how we all live our lives. But that summer, I left to go work at camp to get my mind off of girls and really get my heart right and my priorities straight. I'll never forget the words my mom said to me "You'll find someone who doesn't go to Anderson, who will value you as a man and who will push you to do what God wants in your life. She'll put God first in her life and push you to do the same. She'll respect that you are striving for that in your own life". That all happened in May 2004 as I was sitting on those steps.

I go off to camp and we're sitting in the basement of lookout lodge meeting the staff. I was sitting there with people I already knew and I knew that this would be a good staff - there were no girls there that showed interest in me and none that I had interest in (part of it was because I was pushing everyone away!) But then Evan said we're still waiting on 2 people to get there, 1 of those people was Libby. I will NEVER forget when she walked in the door....that smile got me and I'll never forget my prayer at that moment. "Why are you doing this to me God?!" I knew that Libby was the other lifeguard I was going to be working with all summer and I was scared, because she captivated me right off the bat. So that first day, her and I were talking and bouncing a ball back and forth. She must have thought I was an idiot because I told her about my past relationship and how I didn't want to find anyone this summer, so her and I were strictly business...nothing more. I could tell she was thinking "This guy is full of himself!" But I wanted her to know from the beginning that we would be spending a lot of time together and it meant nothing to me! ha, I'm a jerk.

Well, if you've ever met Libby, there's no denying how incredible she is and you are just drawn to her. So after about a month of spending all day, ever day together, I couldn't take it. I called my mom crying (again, I'm a sap) telling her about this girl. I remember telling her that I felt like this is "the one", but I knew I put my heart out there too easily and I didn't want to do that again, besides, it had only been a month that I had known this girl! How could I really know that?! But Libby seemed to have some kind of feelings for me, who knows. But we went out one night with Danni and Terry to Oakwood and Libby and I started talking...trying to figure out what was going on. I told her my fears and how I just wanted to be friends, but I couldn't help these feelings for her. She told me that she wants to keep God first in her life, but anything she can do to help me to do the same, she would. She said she respects me and what I want to do with my life and the last thing she wants to do is get in the way of that. If you remember what my mom said that day on the stairs, she said exactly what my mom said. Also, Libby went to Indiana Wesleyan - not Anderson. So I went back to camp that night, still confused and praying more than I ever have about a relationship. I remember journaling that next morning and God being clear with me. It was like He was saying, "You have kept me first, you have turned things around, your focus is no longer about finding "the one", but being with me. You're ready". And so it began, Libby and I took it one day at a time, not rushing into anything at all.

Then one night, I went out to see her at school. We went to a place in the woods, I turned up the music in my car and we danced...it was beautiful. As we were driving home, out of nowhere Libby tells me she doesn't want to kiss me until we're engaged. ENGAGED?!? We're just dating!! I thought "that's several years from now...is that even going to work?". But again, God kept tugging my heart...what is this relationship about to you? So I began to get to know her, to fall in love with her and who she is. She had so much respect for our relationship that she didn't want anything physical to ruin it - which we see happen so many times. So I fell in love for the first time with a woman for WHO she is. I remember that being so hard because when you love someone, you kinda want to kiss them :-)

Now that we're married, I look back and see God's hand in EVERYTHING in our life. I see how He brought us together (which would be another long post on here) but basically, I ended up at that camp because I was pursuing a different girl the year before. Crazy. I see God's protection for us, especially in the physical side. It's hard to find someone who is saving themselves physically for the person they are going to marry, and that is something Libby and I pride ourselves on. I am so thankful for the woman God has put in my life to spend the rest of my life with. She's my everything and I couldn't imagine a life without her. There are night when I just watch her sleep and just thank God for her. She's so precious to me and I am so excited for the rest of our lives together. I'm blessed. She also has an incredible family that I love to spend time with. I never grew up hanging out with my cousins, so I feel like her cousins have become my cousins and her grandparents are like my grandparents to me.

I like how we celebrate things like anniversaries. It makes me stop and realize how blessed I really am. I have an incredible life with incredible people to enjoy it with. I love you all and thank you for your love and support in our first year together.

I got the HINT. :)

I was hinted that we need to update our blog. And yes, it is so true! I have no excuse as to why we don't. I have Gabe sitting with me and we both will update. Right now.

10 updates from our life:

• I have 20 days of school left. Wow. Has it really been a year already?
• Gabe is growing out his hair.
• My family is coming to stay at our house next weekend. I promise I will post pictures.
• We completely redid our front yard landscaping. I need to post those pics too! Later...
• Gabe is still awesome. (Direct quote.)
• The student ministry at the Bridge is in a series called "Pause". It was an awesome service this morning. Probably one of the best Aftershocks ever. Period.
• I ruined a rug by washing it. It fell apart in the washer and made a mess.
• Next Sunday we celebrate one year of marriage. We are loving our life!
• We are loving old Cosby Show reruns from the library.
• This summer I will be watching a friend's child, Josiah, one day a week. I am excited to get to know that little guy.
• Gabe is on the start-up committee for an FCA chapter starting at Highland High School.
• Friends and I made a bunch of jewelry yesterday and sold it after church for a fundraiser. Boy, did we raise some funds. (I am proud because my stuff actually sold!)
• I am taking a personal day on Friday. I haven't used any of my sick or personal days yet!
• I love decaf coffee in the morning. Much better for my stomach!
• That's way more than ten, but once I got started I just couldn't stop.

Ah. I feel better. We updated. Finally. But please, don't expect one for awhile, k? :)

Just kidding.

It is Good Friday. Two years ago on this day, my sweetheart asked me to marry him in an ampitheater in Winona Lake. I love remembering that memory. One of the best days of my life. And...eleven months ago on this day we were married! Time is flying by us, but we are loving every minute of marriage. I don't have school today because of it being Good Friday, and it feels nice to have a relaxing morning at home. I saw this little self-trivia on a friend's blog, and thought I would give it a whirl. Enjoy! :)

Three Things About Me:
THREE NAMES I GO BY
*Libby
*Mrs. Reed
*Lib
THREE JOBS I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE
* Camp Adventure lifeguard
*Road construction flagger
*teacher...the BEST!
THREE PLACES I HAVE LIVED
* Milford, IN
*Marion, IN
*Anderson, IN
THREE TV SHOWS THAT I WATCH
* The Biggest Loser
*Dancing with the Stars
*The Office
THREE PLACES I HAVE BEEN
* Lima, Peru
*Hawaii
*Mexico
* PEOPLE THAT E-MAIL ME REGULARLY
* My superintendent
*Mom
*teachers at school
* THREE OF MY FAVORITE FOODS
* strawberries
* popcorn
* peppermint ice cream
THREE FRIENDS I THINK WILL RESPOND
* Kylee
* Elise
* I don't even know if people look at our blog! :)
THREE THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
* Our one year anniversary
* Summertime!
* Doing repairs and updates to our house this summer

I want to know your 3 things! Copy and paste this into your blog and erase my answers and add yours! Let me know you do it so I can read it!!!

Have a wonderful Easter with your families!